Trial of Rabbi Accused of Sexual Offenses Resumes

By Yehuda Shlezinger
Israel Hayom
December 4, 2012

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=6612

Rabbi Elon (right) with his supporters in November 2011, insisting the allegations are a "misinterpretation of my actions."

The trial of religious Zionist leader Rabbi Mordechai (Moti) Elon on charges of having sexually abused two young boys resumed on Tuesday after a series of delays caused by changes to the indictment sheet.

The prominent rabbi, one of the most admired leaders in the religious Zionist movement, is accused of indecent assault against minors and indecent assault that exploited student-teacher relations.

Forum Takanah, a group that purports to fight sexual harassment by religious authority figures, first publicized allegations against the rabbi in February 2010, and a criminal investigation was launched later that year. A formal indictment was issued in November 2011 and Elon’s trial officially opened a month later. However, in April this year, the prosecution requested changes in the original indictment. A further change was made two weeks ago to add new witnesses said to have additional information in the case.

Israel Hayom has learned that the police investigator in the case, Brig. Gen. Efraim Bracha, was also recently involved in another high-profile case against a well-known rabbi, Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto. Pinto allegedly tried to bribe Bracha in exchange for information about an investigation into the rabbi's institutions. Pinto claims the money was meant for a family in financial difficulties.

Elon's friends say they are sure that the rabbi, who has headed various religious and social organizations and who tours the country as a lecturer and hosts a live radio broadcast, is innocent.

"This trial will include farces that are simply incomprehensible," a friend of the rabbi said. "We know the legal system is fair and any sensible judge will understand that we are talking about a fabricated frame-up in this case. So many interest groups are involved in this case, and it is very obvious that someone is trying to bring down the rabbi."

Another friend said, "The prosecution announced new witnesses in the case, but they are really the same two who claimed that the rabbi hugged and kissed them."

In 2010, in response to the accusations, Elon lashed out at members of the Forum Takanah. The group, which was established in 2003, comprises key members of the religious Zionist community, and attempts to, as it says, "develop a working model within the community for dealing with harassment inflicted by authority figures."

In a press conference in the northern Israeli town of Migdal on Nov. 3, 2011, Elon denied claims that he performed indecent sexual acts with minors, saying he had hugged, kissed and embraced, “even strongly,” boys under the age of 18, solely with the intention of helping them, but that his actions had been misinterpreted.